HSWLA's OCTOBER GUEST SPEAKER
Laura Abbott , Victims’ Rights - Arkansas Cabot, AR
Join us October 17, 2024!
Laura Abbott survived a near fatal vehicular assault by her husband. She is now a dynamic
volunteer for victims’ rights policy reform. Laura partnered with four members of the Arkansas General Assembly in 2015 to draft legislation that included creation of a state-wide victims’ rights card, victimless prosecution, a state-wide lethality assessment, and mandating teen dating violence/ healthy relationships
education in public schools. Laura has continued her work in policy collaboration focusing on
legislation including human trafficking and defendant’s enforcement of the victims’ right to be
heard.
Laura collaborated with numerous Arkansas agencies in creating “Laura’s Card.” More
information for Laura’s Card may be found at www.laurascard.ar.gov on the Arkansas Attorney
General’s Office website.
Since 2015, Laura has researched and partnered on approximately six more victims’ rights
related laws. Laura has recruited other survivors of crime to testify on behalf of some of these
bills.
Laura serves as a Governor-appointed member on the Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse
Rape and Domestic Violence and Arkansas Crime Victim Reparation Board Laura also served
on the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Commission. Nationally, Laura served/ serves on the
National Organization for Victim Advocacy and the National Crime Victim Law Institute.
Laura served on the Lonoke County Safe Haven Domestic Violence Shelter Board and the Wade
Knox Child Advocacy Center in her local area.
She has recieved numerous awards for her collaborations on adverse childhood experiences,
domestic violence, and victims’ rights, In 2019, Ms. Abbott was the recipient of the Department
of Justice Volunteer for Victims National Crime Victims Award. Ms. Abbott was an intermediate
level national credential victim advocate in 2022. In 2024, Laura received the prestigious John
W. Gillis Award from the Parents of Murdered Children.
Ms. Abbott has presented on the local, state, national, and international level on subjects of
victims’ rights, adverse childhood experiences, suicide prevention, brain basic neuroscience, and
the vagus nerve.
Laura has been an educator for over three and a half decades. In 2014, Laura was selected
Health Educator of the Year. Despite the enduring trauma from her near-death experience, Ms. Abbott uses her experience and passion to help others. By volunteering numerous hours and personal resources to help victims of crime, Laura has brought awareness to victims’ rights, the impact of crime and trauma, mental health , suicide prevention, adverse childhood experiences, neuroscience, and post-traumatic growth to thousands across the state.
Laura founded Victims’ Rights Arkansas, a grassroots movement to improve victims’ rights to include standing (enforceable victims’ rights) via a state consitutional amendment for enforceable victims’ rights.
About HSWLA
MISSION
The Mission of the Hot Springs Women's Leadership Alliance is to bring together a diverse group of women leaders to collaborate and encourage each other through mentorship, education, and support.
Objectives:
- Build and foster a community of successful and influential women within our community.
- Encourage professional growth through leadership, education, and support.
- Build relationships and encourage mentorship from within the organization.
- Raise positive awareness about our members and their potential within our community.
- Recognize and nominate women leaders for awards and acknowledgements.
- Keep members top of mind for committees, advisory boards, and positions of influence.
- Provide information on resources to support women owned businesses.
- Community engagement and non-political advocacy for topics selected by the members.
- Identify and encourage young women of promise.
- Serve as role models within our community.
